The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-31
The House Passes the postoffice Bill.

WASHINGTON Jan. 29-On motion of Mr..
Lanham, of Texas. bill was passed appropriate
ing $40, 900 to enable the Commissioner of Agri-
culture to make special distribution of seeds in
the drought stricken counties of Texas.
Mr.. Morrison. of Illinois, from the COMMITTEES
on rules, reported resolutions setting forth part
of Thursday next for consideration of business
reported by the committee foreign affairs,
and ordering night session for Tuesday next
for consideration of business reported by the
committee On military affairs. Adopted.
Mr.. Hammond, of Georgia. called up the reso-
luton reported from the committee on judiciary,
| reciting that d. Wyatt Aiken, Representative
| from the Third South Carolina district, has been
unable. from sickness, to appear in person to be
sworn in as a member, and in all probability will
| be unable to appear during the remainder of the
Congress- but that he has subscribed to an oath
| of Office, before officer authorized to admins
| ter oatns and declaring that said oath be &C
cepted and received by the House as Mr.. Aiken's
oath of Office
Mr.. Richardson, of North Carolina, submitted
| the report of the select committee charged with
| inquiring into the alleged violations of Rule 81
| Regulating admissions to the hoor) and it was
| referred to the committee on rules. The COM
mittee recommends the amendment of the rule
| 80 to admit to the floor such ex members as are
| not interested personally, nor attorneys OF
agents, in any claim or bill pending before Con-
gress.
MIR. Steele Of Indiana, attempted to call up
for consideration the bill for the reorganization
| of the army, suggesting that, as war had been
declared, it Was important that action should be
| taken on that measure. The suggestion raised
| laugh, but the House declined to take up the
special order and went into committee of the
whole-Mr. McMilin, of Tennessee. in the
| char-on the postofice appropriation bill.
Mr.. Blount, of Georgia, in charge Of the bill,
briefly explained its provisions. stating that no
| new legislation proposed. and that the
estimates of the department had been, in the
| main, followed There was increase, to which
he called the attention of the committee, in the
| appropriation for mail transportation and post
Office inspectors. For this service So, 900 was
given. being an increase of 81. 900
over the appropriation of last year.
| This increase was given to enable
the Postmaster general to investigate more thor
| oughly the frauds which, in many cases. existe
in the conduct of fourth-class postonices. He
cited several instances in which fourth-class
postmasrers had made false reports as to the
amounts OF stamps cancelled by them, and upor
which their compensation was based, and he ex
pressed the belief that q great reformation
Of the service would be worked if the post
masters of this class knew that the Postmaster
general had increased force of inspectors a
his command.
Mr.. Peters, of Kansas while not opposing tht
bill. regretted that il did not contain provision
making allowance to postmasters of the third
and fourth classes for clerk-hire and light ant
fuel.
The bill was reported to the House and passed
and the House again went into committee-Mr
Blount, of Georgia, in the chair-on the Distric
of Columbia appropriation bill. After a brie
debate the committee rose, the bill was passes
arc the House adjourned.